Tag Archives: 1964

“Shorty” Mustang

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1964½ Ford Mustang “Shorty” Concept

Offered by Auctions America | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | March 27-29, 2014

Photo - Auctions America

Photo – Auctions America

This may be a car you are not familiar with. It looks like a normal 1965 – or, 1964½, my apologies – Mustang that got struck in a trash compactor. Believe it or not, this was actually a Ford factory concept car, its construction having been outsourced to Dearborn Steel Tubing Industries. This car was originally the 10th Mustang Prototype, but designer Vincent Gardner cut 16 inches out of the wheelbase and re-designed the entire body behind the firewall.

Ford had no intentions of ever building a two-seat-only Mustang because a car with four seats has broader appeal than does one with room only for two. But just for the hell of it, Ford decided to have this concept built anyway. After a few shows and magazine covers, Ford decided enough was enough and planned to have the car scrapped.

But Gardner had other plans. He stole the car and hid it in a warehouse… but he failed to continue to pay his rent and the warehouse’s owner found the car and called the cops. When the Mustang went missing, Ford’s insurance paid them for it, fearing it lost. So now the insurance had the car and Ford already had their money. So they sold it to one of their employees who kept it until 1968 when the current owner acquired it.

It was kept hidden away until the past 15 years, when it was restored and shown at various shows. In fact, here’s a video I took of it driving around last summer. The engine is a 4.9-liter V-8 and the body is fiberglass. Obviously, this is the only Mustang quite like this and it should sell for between $400,000-$600,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $511,500.

Here’s video of this actual car:

DB5 Convertible

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1964 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible

Offered by Bonhams | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 15, 2015

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Yes, this is an Aston Martin DB5 Convertible. “But aren’t Aston convertibles called ‘Volantes?'” Well yes, but not until 1965. So this is the last time they used “convertible.” The DB5 is, perhaps, the most iconic Aston Martin, as it was the Goldfinger car. So what happens when you take a beautiful, iconic car and cut the roof off? You make it even better.

They’re powered by a 282 horsepower 4.0-liter straight-six mated to the rear wheels with a five-speed manual. The gorgeous body is by Touring and this one spent most of its life in the U.K. until 2013 when it was imported into the U.S. The car was never restored but has been repainted (in 1995). It has 90,265 miles on it and shows very well.

Only 1,021 DB5s were built and of those, only 123 were convertibles, making this exceedingly rare. Everything is correct and it should sell for between $1,400,000-$1,700,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Bonhams in Arizona.

Update: Not sold.

Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale

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1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti

Offered by RM Auctions | Monterey, California | August 15-16, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

By now you’ve surely read that there is a 250 GTO being offered for sale during this incredible auction weekend, but what if a 250 GTO is a little too common for your tastes? What kind of Ferrari do you buy when you want something more exclusive than a 250 GTO? This one, that’s what.

We’ve actually featured a 275 GTB/C before, one of just 13 built. This is also among that 13, but it is a little more special. The 275 GTB/C (“C” for “competizione”) was the direct successor to the 250 GTO. It ran at Le Mans its debut year. This is the first of the three Speciale Berlinettas built. Hand-built by Scaglietti, you can see traits of 250 GTO in it – namely those three holes punched in the nose.

This car was never raced – and only one of the three Speciales ever saw competition. This car was sold new to an Italian who registered it for road use. And what a blast this thing must be on the road: the engine is a 320 horsepower 3.3-liter V-12. And it was constructed as a lightweight racer, so it will blast around wherever you take it.

As stated above, this is one of three like it and RM insists it is the only one you will likely see for sale for a long, long time. And I must say, it is brilliant in this color scheme. I do believe this is the only car in RM’s catalog that doesn’t have a published estimate – but if the 275 GTB/C we featured last year brought $7 million, this should quite easily double it. Click here for more info and here for more from RM in Monterey.

Update: Sold $26,400,000.

BMW Hurrican

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1964 BMW Hurrican Prototype

Offered by Oldtimer Galerie | Zurich, Switzerland | June 7-8, 2014

Photo - Oldtimer Galerie

Photo – Oldtimer Galerie

This is a strange one. It’s called a BMW Hurrican and I can’t tell you for sure whether or not this is actually a BMW. I mean, it certainly has BMW parts and a BMW badge – but there is little evidence anywhere that BMW had anything to do with its construction. As you can see in the photo, however, it is certainly welcome at the world’s greatest car shows, such as Villa d’Este.

It is said to be based on a BMW 1800ti, likely from 1964 – and a Ferrari 250 LM. Now, this car doesn’t have a pre-sale estimate listed, but rather “contact us” – but a Ferrari 250 LM is worth over $10 million. This car is not worth that. This is part of the reason it is interesting.

The story I’ve seen is that this car was built by a group of students (college, I believe) in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The engine is a 1.8-liter straight-four making 120 horsepower. It also uses pieces from a Volvo, Fiat and Jaguar. While the build of the car began in 1967, it didn’t finish until 1975 and it’s been an attention-getter ever since. It definitely looks better than the 1800ti it is based on. You can read more here and see the rest of this auction lineup here. We have great readers at ClassicCarWeekly.net and I’m sure if any of you know more about this, you’ll let us know in the comments section.

Two Mercury Factory Drag Cars

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1964 Mercury Comet A/FX Caliente

Offered by Mecum | Indianapolis, Indiana | May 17, 2014

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

What was awesome about drag racing in the 1960s is that major automobile manufacturers were getting involved, building ridiculous specials utilizing everything they knew about how to make cars go fast. And they looked just like the stuff you could buy off the showroom floor.

In this case, the second generation Mercury Comet in top-trim Caliente form. Not that trim levels matter when the car is stripped bare and has numerous special bits bolted on. The engine is a 7.0-liter 427 “High Riser” V-8 rated at 425 horsepower.

This car competed in Southern Drag (as NASCAR-sponsored series) racing events. There are examples with better pedigree, but it is estimated that only 15 out the 21 A/FX Comets built in 1964 remain. This one should sell for between $275,000-$325,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $200,000.

1965 Mercury Comet B/FX Cyclone

Offered by Mecum | Indianapolis, Indiana | May 17, 2014

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

The A/FX class had been dominated in 1964 by the likes of the Comets seen at the top of this post. So in 1965, Mercury dropped down a level to see if they could broaden their dominance. Enter, the B/FX Comet.

The engines were smaller in this class, and this car has a 4.7-liter 289 with Weber carbs, putting out nearly 400 horsepower. That’s right, the Cobra engine.

Competition history on this particular example is unknown, but it is known that only nine of the original 15 B/FX Comets built still exist. This one should bring between $220,000-$300,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Mecum in Indy.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $170,000.

Mercury Comet A/FX

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1964 Mercury Comet A/FX Caliente

Offered by Mecum | Indianapolis, Indiana | May 17, 2014

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

What was awesome about drag racing in the 1960s is that major automobile manufacturers were getting involved, building ridiculous specials utilizing everything they knew about how to make cars go fast. And they looked just like the stuff you could buy off the showroom floor.

In this case, the second generation Mercury Comet in top-trim Caliente form. Not that trim levels matter when the car is stripped bare and has numerous special bits bolted on. The engine is a 7.0-liter 427 “High Riser” V-8 rated at 425 horsepower.

This car competed in Southern Drag (as NASCAR-sponsored series) racing events. There are examples with better pedigree, but it is estimated that only 15 out the 21 A/FX Comets built in 1964 remain. This one should sell for between $275,000-$325,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $200,000.

Alpine M64

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1964 Alpine M64

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

Here’s a rare car from a rare, but long-lived French manufacturer. Jean Redele’s Alpines first began appearing in 1955 and by 1970, Renault had a majority stake in the company. Models carrying the Alpine name continued to roll off the line through 1995.

But in the early days, Alpine stood for racing success. The M64 was an updated version of the M63 and both were aimed at conquering the sports car circuit. The M64 uses a 115 horsepower 1.2-liter straight-four. The competition history for this car includes:

  • 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans – 17th, 1st in class (with Henry Morrogh and Roger Delageneste)
  • 1964 12 Hours of Reims – 18th, 1st in class (with Morrogh and Delageneste)
  • 1964 1000km Paris – 20th, 2nd in class (with Morrogh and Delageneste)
  • 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans – 28th, DNF (with Roger Masson and Guy Verrier)
  • 1965 12 Hours of Reims – 12th (with Verrier and Jacques Cheinisse)

This car left the active racing circuit after 1965 and was used by Alpine in the development of their A210 race car. The current owner bought the car in 1977 and has had the car restored, even though it still has the longtail from the A210 development period. It is one of only three M64s built and easily the most successful on track. It is being sold as “ready-to-race” and you can go racing for a cost between $200,000-$275,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM’s Monaco sale.

Update: Sold $431,545.

Update II: Sold, Artcurial Paris, October 2016, $408,575.

GT40 Prototype

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1964 Ford GT40 Prototype

Offered by Mecum | Houston, Texas | April 12, 2014

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

Everyone knows the story of how the Ford GT40 came into existence – the Ford vs. Enzo Ferrari showdown that led Ford to dominate the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the latter part of the 1960s. The first GT40 made its world debut at the New York Auto Show in April 1964.

The first two GT40 prototypes were wrecked in Le Mans testing. Chassis #2 was repaired and found its way into the 1000km of the Nurburgring. But Ford needed more cars, so two more prototype were built. This was the second of those additional prototypes. This one was the first one built with a lighter steel chassis. It was also among the first group of GT40s to actually compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

The competition history of this car includes:

  • 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans – 44th, DNF (with Richie Ginther and Masten Gregory)
  • 1964 Nassau Speed Week – DNF
  • 1965 Daytona 2000km – 3rd (with Ginther and Bob Bondurant)
  • 1965 12 Hours of Sebring – DNF (with Ginther, Phil Hill & Ken Miles)

The car was retired from competition prior to the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford restored the car and sent it on a promotional tour of the auto show circuit. In 1971, it was sold to its first owner. A restoration to race condition began in 1973 and wasn’t completed until after 2010.

This is one of two Shelby American-prepared GT40s that raced and it’s one of only four Ford 289-powered GT40 prototypes. That engine, the 4.7-liter V-8, also called the Cobra home. This is the second-oldest GT40 in existence. and it is a big money car. Read more here and check out more from Mecum here.

Update: Sold $7,000,000.

904 Carrera GTS

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1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS

Offered by RM Auctions | Paris, France | February 5, 2014

1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS

The Porsche RS 61 race car was the final version of the 718 series and it went out of production in 1961. It remained competitive for another year or so, but by the end of 1963, Porsche had to have something else representing it on racetracks. Enter the Carrera GTS.

Designed to compete in the FIA GT class, the Carrera GTS (they couldn’t officially call it the 904 for legal reasons – thanks, Peugeot) was new for the 1964 model year (and made through 1965). The car would win its class at Sebring and Le Mans that year alone. This car was the first 904 delivered new to the U.K. and likely the only one painted in this color. It raced in privateer hands in races held all over the U.K. In 1968 it was sold to an owner in the U.S. and the current owner acquired it in 1997.

It has been restored and uses Porsche’s 185 horsepower 2.0-liter flat-four. The body is fiberglass and it is a quick car, topping out at 160 mph. This is the last Porsche race car that I’m pretty sure you can get away with driving on the road. That makes it more or less an early supercar and the last one like it Porsche built for quite some time.

Only 120 of these cars were built. This one should sell for between $1,360,000-$1,900,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM in Paris.

S/N: 904-045.

Update: Sold $1,724,246.

Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle II

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1964 Chevrolet CERV II

Offered by RM Auctions | New York, New York | November 21, 2013

1964 Chevrolet CERV II

The Chevrolet CERV (Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) program was a series of five cars that were test beds for upcoming models (generally Corvette-related). The original CERV-I of the late-50s was more of an open-wheel race car than a road-going prototype.

The CERV-II was completed in 1964 and it was built under the supervision of Zora Arkus-Duntov, the father of the Corvette. Remember how every time a new generation of the Corvette is on the horizon, rumors abound that it will be mid-engined? Well you can thank this car for that. It is indeed mid-engined and came about the same time as the GT40. Duntov wanted to build five or six of them and compete at Sebring and Le Mans. The racing plans were quashed by GM, but one car was built anyway.

The first engine was a 6.2-liter V-8 making 500 horsepower. Dependent on gearing, it could do 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds or top out at 212 mph. Both are extremely impressive today. Also: it was four-wheel drive, which was unheard of in a sports racing car like this back in the day.

Later on, Duntov found a 7.0-liter (427) ZL1 V-8 engine and stuffed it behind the driver’s seat. It is conservatively estimated to make 550 horsepower (probably more like 700 in reality). It also weighs 1,848 pounds! Duntov thought it could’ve broken Mark Donohue’s 221+ mph closed-course speed record. It was never attempted.

The car was later donated to the Briggs Cunningham Museum in California and remained there until it closed in 1986 and was sold. The current owner bought it in 2001 and made sure every piece was period-correct. Just about everything on this car is original, including the paint, which is part of the reason this is probably the coolest car in this sale (and this sale is packed tight with unbelievable cars). Just the fact that it is so outrageous and has survived this long is a testament to how important these Corvette technology test cars are.

If you’re a serious Corvette collector, this is a car you must have. It should sell for between $1,400,000-$1,800,000. You can check out more here and see more from this sale here.

Update: Sold $1,100,000.